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Antibiotics

The vast majority of hamburger chains — 22 of the top 25, including giants such as McDonald’s and In-N-Out — got an “F” grade on our Chain Reaction scorecard because they lack established policies restricting antibiotic use in their beef supply chains.

Its almost July 4th, and soon Californians from San Diego to Redding will gather to watch fireworks and enjoy the peak of summer. Most of us will eat a barbecued meal with family and friends as well — the Fourth is the number one grilling event of the year. Here are some key things to know to protect your health when you’re preparing your holiday barbecue.

Oakland, CA - The consumer and public health advocacy organization CALPIRG Education Fund is calling on McDonald’s, to commit to a concrete timeline for phasing out the routine use of medically-important antibiotics in their beef and pork supply chains. Health experts, including the World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics, warn that the routine use of antibiotics on animals that aren’t sick fuels drug-resistant bacteria, a major health threat to humans.

Stop the overuse of antibiotics on factory farms

At least 23,000 Americans die every year from antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that the widespread overuse of antibiotics on factory farms is making them less effective. Without leadership from Washington, D.C., we need restaurant chains and state governments to take action to address this public health threat.

In response to the health risks posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, McDonald’s has announced it is implementing new targets for cutting antibiotic use in the global chicken supply, and plans to expand its commitment to fewer antibiotics in pork and beef.

Public interest, environmental, food safety and consumer groups representing millions of consumers sent a letter today calling on In-N-Out Burger, California's iconic hamburger restaurant chain, to make good on its promise to stop selling beef produced with routine antibiotics.

At McDonald’s annual shareholder meeting today shareholders voted on a proposal to eliminate the routine use of medically important antibiotics from the company’s entire meat supply chain. Of those that voted, nearly 30% were in favor of the resolution.

Earlier this week, Tyson Foods announced another big step toward stopping the overuse of antibiotics on industrial farms. The announcement underscores a larger trend that’s been happening for a few years now; consumer pressure is helping to drive important public health changes in the marketplace. To be sure, there are laggards on the antibiotics front (see our recent blog on KFC), but perhaps no company has lagged as aggressively and proudly as Sanderson Farms.

Over the past few days our staff and volunteers went to KFC restaurants in San Diego, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, and the San Francisco Bay Area and delivered a petition with over 9,000 signatures from concerned Californians, calling on the Colonel of fried chicken to stop serving meat raised with antibiotic overuse.